DATE: November 7, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Ratification of Provider Participation Agreement with California Department of Public Health through California Bridge Access Program
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to ratify a Provider Participation Agreement with the California Department of Public Health provided through the California Bridge Access Program to order and receive COVID-19 vaccines at no cost, previously executed on September 20, 2023 by the Director of the Department of Public Health, effective September 20, 2023 through December 31, 2024 ($0); and
2. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Health or designee to sign for any future agreements related to the California Bridge Access Program for COVID-19 vaccines at any time during the term of the recommended agreement.
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the first recommended action will ratify the Provider Participation Agreement previously executed on September 20, 2023 by the Director of the Department of Public Health for the California Bridge Access Program (BAP) allowing for the Department to order COVID-19 vaccines from the California Department of Public Health at no cost. These vaccines will be administered to uninsured and underinsured individuals 19 years of age and older. Approval of the second recommended action authorizes the Director and/or designee to sign any future agreements associated with BAP that are related to COVID-19 vaccines, allowing for swift action to be taken if needed without having to return to your Board for approval should a new agreement be required. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(s):
There is no viable alternative action. Should your Board choose not to approve the recommended actions, the Department would not be able to access COVID-19 vaccines from the State through BAP at no cost for the uninsured/underinsured population in the community, which would lead to individuals being unprotected against the current strains of COVID-19.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The Provider Participation Agreement will provide the Department with federally funded COVID-19 vaccines through BAP at no cost to the County. The Department Immunization Program staff will be responsible for administering the vaccine.
DISCUSSION:
On September 11, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized the updated Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for the Omicron variant XBB.1.5. The FDA simultaneously deauthorized all prior versions of the COVID-19 vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer, requiring that all current stocks of these vaccines across the nation, be destroyed. This marks the end of the Federal program that provided free COVID-19 vaccines to all individuals nationwide.
The COVID-19 vaccines are now transitioning to the standard commercial model whereby providers must purchase the vaccines directly from authorized vendors. The majority of individuals in the nation will now be receiving COVID-19 vaccines through their private insurance. This transition unfortunately leaves uninsured and underinsured adults vulnerable to barriers in accessing this vaccine leaving them unprotected against currently circulating variants of COVID-19. The US Department of Health and Human Services created the Bridge Access Program as a temporary measure to prevent loss of access to free COVID-19 vaccines and treatment for the uninsured and underinsured aged 19 and older.
BAP will provide the Department with the latest formulations of the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost through December 31, 2024. Eligibility to receive these vaccines is limited to individuals 19 years of age and older who are uninsured or underinsured. To participate in this program, providers such as the Department, are required to sign the Provider Participation Agreement with CDPH. Due to the anticipated impact on local healthcare resources created by influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and COVID-19 infection this winter, the Department felt it prudent to have the agreement signed as soon as possible to ensure the Department could begin vaccinating this vulnerable population immediately. The vaccine order was placed on September 27, 2023 and was received on October 10, 2023.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Provider Participation Agreement with CDPH
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander